Spoke-jack.



v PATENTED JULY 21,1908.

J. A. ALLEY.

SPOKE JACK.

APPLIUATION FILED JUNE 17. 1907.

vwmntov James #1 #Zlay citizen of the United States,

JAMES ALFORD ALLEY, OF STONEVILLE, NORTH CAROLINA.

SPOKE-JACK.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented July 21, 1908.

Application filed June 17, 1907. Serial No. 379,488.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, J AMES ALFoRn ALLEY, residing at Stoneville, in thecounty of Rockingham and State of North Carolina, have invented certainnew and useful Im rovements in Spoke- Jacks, of which the fol owing is aspecification.

This invention has for its object to provide means for removing brokenspokes from the hubs of vehicle wheels without marring, bruising orotherwise injuring the finish of the hub or other part of the wheel,while at the same time enabling the work to be performed in a rapid andeffective manner.

For a full understanding of the invention and the merits thereof andalso to acquire a knowledge of the details of construction and the meansfor effecting the result, reference is to be had to the followingdescription and accom anying drawings.

l/Vhi e the invention may be adapted to different forms and conditionsby changes in the structure and minor details without departing from thespirit or essential features thereof, still the preferred embodiment isshown in the accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure 1 is a front View of a spoke 6X- tractor embodying the inventionand showing the same fitted to a vehicle wheel as it will appear when inposition for pulling or removing a spoke. Fig. 2 is a perspective viewof the machine. 7

Corresponding and like parts are referred to in the followingdescription and indicated in all the views ofthe drawings by the samereference characters.

In its organization the machine embodies a b frame, a spoke grapple, apower screw and connecting means between and power screw.

The frame of the machine is constructed to straddle a vehicle wheel, asindicated in Fig.

.' 1, and to engage with end portions of the hub or with the latter ateach side of the frame of the wheel so as to equalize the strain andenable a direct ull upon the spoke being exerted. The ffame compriseslegs or side members 1 which are off-set near opposite ends to throw theterminal portions of the legs or side members inward towards each other.The lower ends of the legs or side members 1 are provided with forkedrests 2 for engagement with end portions of the hub the spoke grapple"of the vehicle wheel to enable the frame to 'end to the other accordingas may be required to suit the convenience of the user. A draft bar 7has its upper end bent about at a right angle, as shown at 8, and formedwith an internally threaded opening to receive the power screw 5. Thelower end of the draft bar is connected with a spoke grapple, theconnection having a swivel to admit of the parts readily adaptingthemselves to the direction of strain' The spoke grapple comprisessimilar members 9 having their lower ends bent and pivotally connectedand hav ing their upper ends outwardly deflected and connected by shortchains 10 with a swivel fitted to the lower end of the draft bar 7. Themembers 9 are connected by pivot fastening 11, the latter being passedthrough one of a series of openings formed in the bent ends of themembers 9, thereby admitting of adjustably-connecting said membersaccording to the size of the spoke to be extracted. Jaws 12 projectlaterally from the members 9 and their faces are roughened to preventslipping when the grapple is fitted to the spoke and the power screwturned to effect removal'of said spoke from the hub. The jaws 12 aresecured to the members 9 by suitable fastenings 13 to admit of said jawseing removed for any purpose.

When it is required to remove a spoke from a vehicle wheel, the machineis fitted to the wheel and having the legs or members of its framestraddle the same and engaging with end portions of the hub 15. Thegrapple is fitted to the spoke 16 to be removed and upon turning thepower screw, the free ends of the members 9 are drawn inward, therebycausing the jaws 12 to firmly grip the spoke 16, while at the same timegreat power is brought to bear upon the spoke to remove it from itssocket in the hub. For convenience of steadying the machine, a bar 17 ispivoted to one of the legs or side members 1 and constitutes a handle.When the machine is not in use, the bar 17 may be folded in the plane ofthe frame so as not to be in the way.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed as new is:

In a device for removing spokes from vehicle wheels, the combination ofa frame adapted to span the wheel and engage the hub thereof, the saidframe comprising side bars connected at one end by a cross piece, apower screw journaled uponthe cross piece, a draft bar having one end.thereof bent laterally and in threaded engagement with the power screw,a grapple comprising complemental side members each having one endthereof extended inwardly while the opposite end is deflected outwardly,the said inwardly extended ends being adjustably contnected by a pivotmember and spoke engaging jaws being provided which project laterallyfrom intermediate portions of the members, and connecting means betweenthe outwardly deflected endsof the grapple members and the draft bar.

In testimony whereof I afliX my signature inpresence of two witnesses.

JAMES ALFORD ALLEY. [Lis.1

Witnesses:

T. L. SMITH,

G. M. MITGHELL.

